Electrical steam-boiler.



No. 688,288. Patented Nov. l2, |981. c. E. GRIFFING.

ELECTRICAL STEAM BOILER.

(Application led Apr. 2, 1900.)

(llo Model.)

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`tical section of my improved boiler.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. GRlFFI-NG, OF HAMILTON, OHIO.

ELECTRICAL STEAM-BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,288, dated November 12, 1901.

Application filed April 2, 1900. Serial No. 11,249. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, OHARLEs E. GRIEEING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hamilton, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Steam- Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a properly insulated boiler-shell wound with copper wire or other suitable conductor for electricity, which is suitably covered with the insulator.

It consists, further, of water-heads secured at each end of the boiler and connected by a series of pipes running the full length of the boiler and provided with a series of minute perforations directed toward the interior face of the boiler-shell.

It consists, further, of additional waterheads at each end of the boiler secured immediately inside of the first-named waterheads and connected bya series of perforated pipes, said last-named water-heads being divided into three separate and distinct compartments.

My invention further consists of a series of alternately-arranged heating-pipes interposed between the water-heads and their connecting water pipes or tubes, said heatingpipes being provided with electrical conductors suitably insulated electrically from each other and from the pipe into which they are inserted, saidl conductors in the several heating -pipes being connected together in series adapted to be disconnected separately for purposes of repairs. The insulation employed by me in carrying out my invention while being a non-conductor of electricity is i `an ample conductor of heat to permit the accomplishment of the desired ends. The firstnamed water heads are connected to the source of supply separately from the secondnamed water-heads, andthe several compartments in the second-named water-heads are separately'connected to the source of supply whereby the desired amount of steam may be generated.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central Ver- Fig`. 2 is a section of the same on the line a; x, Fig.

- 1. y Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View, enlarged,

of the'heating-conductors. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same, the outer insulation being removed. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the heating-tubes, showing their electrical connection. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional View of a portion of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, 1 is the boiler-shell, of approved pattern.

2 represents the heads, provided with an annular depending flange 3, by means of which said heads are suitably secured to the shell by the usual methods. It is preferred, however, that these heads be secured to the shell by means of bolts and nuts, whereby they are readily removable for purposes of repairs. Y

4 represents heads rmly secured steamtight within the boiler-shell, immediately within the heads 2, said heads 4, which will be hereinafterk referred to as the interior heads or steam-heads, being provided with a series of screw-threaded openings or holes 5 near their bottom, to be hereinafter referred to.

The boiler-shell is rst coated with mica or asbestos 6, and then porcelain or silicate of soda 7, over which the electrical conductingwires 8 are coiled throughout the length of the boiler, said wires being covered by an insulation 9, preferably porcelain. While the boilershell is electrically insulated from the conducting-wires 8, the heat generated in said wires is permitted to heat the said shell.

10 represents Water-heads secured within the boiler immediately adjacent to the steamheads 4, said water-heads being semicircular and fitting snugly within the boiler.

11 represents water-tubes the respective ends of which are screwed in the water-heads 10, thereby establishing circulation between said heads. Said tubes 11 are provided with perforations 112L on the under side of very minute bore and directed against the interior of the boiler-shell.

12 is a supply-pipe leading into one of the water-heads 10 from a suitable tank.

13 represents water-heads of the same shape as the water-heads just described, each divided into three separate and distinct compartments, into which the supply-pipes 14 respectively lead, said pipes being connected to a main supply-pipe 15 and being provided with suitable cut-offs 16, whereby one or more ICO of said sections of the water-heads may be supplied with water independent of the other sections or compartments. The water-heads 13 are connected by a series of water-tubes 17.

18 represents supports arranged within the boiler to support the water-tubes 11 and 17 at diderent points throughout their length to prevent sagging of the same in long boilers.

19 represents heating-tubes the ends of which are secured in the screw-threaded openings 5 in the steam-heads 4 within the boiler and positioned between the water-tubes 11 and 17, their ends passing between the water-heads, heretofore referred to. As will be clearly seen from Fig. 2, these heating-tubes are arranged between but below said watertubes, thereby presentinga large heating-surface to the sprays of water issuing through the perforations 17W through the lower portionsof the water-tubes 17.

The heating mediums for the tubes 19 are built up as follows: The conductors 20 and 21 are separately insulated, as at 22 and 23, then secured together by means of an asbestos or other suitable insulation 24, around which is coiled a conducting-wire 25, one end of which is coiled around a conductor 21,while its other end is coiled around the conductor 20, thereby establishing a circuit between the two conductors 20 and 21, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. This coil of wire 25 is covered by an insulation 26 of asbestos or other suitable material. From this it will be seen that while the current is insulated electrically from the heating-tubes 19 the heat generated from the current is readily conducted to the said heatin g-pipe, whereby the said pipe may be heated to any degree desired, according to the amount of current employed. From Fig. 5 it will be seen that these several heating-tubes 19, or rather the conductors within the said tubes, are-connected in series, so as to establish a complete circuit throughout all of the tubes, said series of connections being of such character that one or more of the devices may be withdrawn for purpose of repair without disturbing the others. The ends of the conductors within the heating-tubes extend from said tubes into the space formed between the boiler-head 2 and the steamhead l0, from which they are conducted or passed through an insulated opening in said boiler-head 2, as shown in Fig. 2, to a dynamo.

The supply-pipe 15 is connected with a suitable tank, (not shown,) said tank being preferably supplied with a heating-coil, whereby the water within the same may be heated to a certain degree before introduction into the boiler. If it is desired t'o utilize the ordinary capacity of the boiler, the three Valves 16 on the pipes 14 are opened and water permitted to iiow within the three separate compartments of the water-heads 13, from which it llows through the pipes 17 into the several compartments of the opposite water-head 13, the water passing from said pipes in minute streams through the perforations, heretofore referred to, formed in the under face of said pipes. The water-heads 10 are supplied with water from the tank by means of the pipe 12, which is also provided with a suitable cut-off similar to the eut-olf 16 on the pipes 14, heretofore referred to, the water circulating between said heads 10 through the pipes 11, from which the water ilows in minute streams against the boiler-shell. These water-heads 10 and pipes 11, however, are not used except to generate an eXtra amount of steam. Before the water is turned into theyboiler, however, the dynamo is started by means of the gas or gasolene engine and run until the heating tubes or pipes 19 are of the temperature to generate steam, at which time the water is turned on and the minute sprays from the water-tubes 17, falling upon the heating-tubes, are generated into steam. ln this connection it will be noted that by reason of arranging the heating-tubes alternately with relation to each other a large heating-surface is presented for said sprays. As soon as a full head of steam is obtained the gas or gasolene engine is shut down and the steam generated is utilized to run the dynamo through the belt H, which is connected to the shaft of the engine. In the event of an extra amount of steam being required the shell of the boiler is heated by means of the wires 8 and the water from the tubes 11 directed against said heated shell, whereby the desired extra amount of steam is generated. In the event that a small amount of steam is desired water is turned on only to one of the supplypipes 14 and the sections or compartments of the water-head 13 into which said pipe runs. All water entering the boiler will be passed through three copper-wire or other suitable strainers, located at any suitable point and separately removable for cleansing. All precipitate and water may be withdrawn from the boiler through the exhaust-pipe 30.

Vhat l claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*- 1. The combination with a boiler, of separate water-heads, perforated pipes leading from said heads, an electrical heating medium for the pipes from each head and an independent supply-pipe for each water-head whereby steam may be generated from the water in one or all of the water-heads.

2. In a boiler of the character described, the combination with water-heads secured within the boiler at each end, separate compartments formed in said heads, an independent supply for each compartment, of watertubes perforated in their under faces and connecting said water-heads in pairs, and heating means located below said pipes within the boiler for generating steam from water issuing through the perforations of said pipes.

l3. In a boiler of the character' described, the combination with water-heads secured within the boiler at each end, separate compartments formed in said heads, and an independent supply for each of said compart` IOO IIO

separate compartments, Water-tubes connecting said heads in pairs, independent supplypipes leading to the several compartments in each head, and heating-tubes arranged between but below the last-named Water-tubes, and an electrical heating-coil and conductors secured Within and electrically insulated from said tubes.

CHARLES E. GRFFING- Witnesses:

H. S. KNXGHT, EDWIN S. OLARKsoN. 

